Ivan Mandy

Member since December 2005 \ Inactive

#None 0 0
My first introduction with the WHS listings dates back to 1994. I was then 'obsessed' (something totally unthinkable for a highschool student then!) with the subject of Spanish Colonial architecture in my country -the Philippines- and it made me appreciate them more when four of them were included in the List. Cool. Now,theyve finally had something nice to talk about our country aside from us being Third World and Imelda Marcos' shoes. My interest have broadend up eversince to include WHS in Southeast and East Asia and further away, North/South America and Europe. I dont think I'll be visiting each one of those places, at least,not in my lifetime but hopefully, enough to make me appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of humanity. WHS that I've savored: 1. the Philippines -- Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (aka Banawe Rice Terraces) -- 3 of the Baroque Churches listed -- Historic City of Vigan -- St. Paul's underground river, Palawan 2. Canada -- Historic City of Quebec (at -40 C!!!) -- Canadian Rockies -- Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta -- Almost visited Lunenburg but never did...dang! 3. USA -- Statue of Liberty (didnt know it was part of the list till now!) 4. Macao, China 5. WHS in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. WHS that I will soon be savroing (in the next 5 years or so!) 1. China (Beijing, Xian, Ping Yao, Suzhou etc) 2 Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An) 3. Thailand ( Ayuthaya) 4. Canada (Lunenburg- finally!) Should any of you have any questions about Philippine world heritage sites,drop me a mail: ihud78@hotmail.com

My most impressive site: Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Historic center of Macao, works of Gaudi in Barcelona, Salamanca,

My proposal for a new site: Georgetown, Malaysia / Batanes Islands, Philippines / city of Quanzhou,the West Lake in Hangzhou, China / Notre Dame Basilica and Old Town, Montreal

Recent Visits
Completed Countries
  • No countries completed yet.
>

About Ivan Mandy

First name
Ivan
Member since
December 2005
Country of Origin
None
Visits
Rank
#None
WHS
0
Tentative Sites
0
Website Participation
Reviews
16
0 0
Photos
N/A
Locations
N/A
Zones
N/A

Reviews by Ivan ManDy

El Escurial by Els Slots

El Escurial (Inscribed)

El Escurial

Grand is the word to describe this palace. From the outside, one is overpowered by its sheer size and immensity, the interior however is very austere and your initial idea …

Summer Palace by Ivan ManDy

Summer Palace (Inscribed)

Summer Palace

There is now a subway line albeit an almost hour long train ride to the Summer Palace. After seeing the Forbidden city, this place strikes to me as an over-sized …

Mount Taishan by Ivan ManDy

Mount Taishan (Inscribed)

Mount Taishan

Another Chinese imperial playground! The cable car ride up was very scenic and makes you wonder who on earth where they able to climb the mountain using horses! Looking down, …

Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius by Ivan ManDy

Temple, Mansion and Cemetery … (Inscribed)

Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius

We were lucky to have a very accommodating and knowledgeable guide (a big plus being able to speak our language) which is perhaps why I really appreciated this place.The whole …

Monastery of Batalha by Els Slots

Monastery of Batalha (Inscribed)

Monastery of Batalha

I loved Alcobaca for her grand simplicity, a perfect combination with the delicate beauty of the church at Batalha. After getting all cathedraled-out in Spain, Alcobaca and Batalha sure proved …

Palau de la Musica Catalana & Hospital de Sant Pau by Els Slots

Palau de la Musica Catalana &… (Inscribed)

Palau de la Musica Catalana & Hospital de Sant Pau

One of my biggest disappointments in Spain was not being able to see the inside of the Palau Musica but the Hospital was really something to remember Barcelona by. I …

Guimarães by Jonas Kremer

Guimarães (Inscribed)

Guimarães

Guimaraes is a cute little town at the foot of a mountain. Its not spectacularly amazing but it does exude a certain Iberian charm that is so typcial in these …

Belem by Els Slots

Belem (Inscribed)

Belem

This monastery is jaw-dropping marvelous! And so was the who city of Lisbon! I love the idea of integrating natural forms to gothic architecture to produce this masterpiece of the …

Monastery of Alcobaça by Argo

Monastery of Alcobaça (Inscribed)

Monastery of Alcobaça

I love the grandeur and simplicity of this place. Reminded me of the design addage "Less is More".

Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras by Ivan ManDy

Rice Terraces of the Philippi… (Inscribed)

Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras

The Rice Terraces is (if Im not mistaken) the first world heritage site of UNESCO under the 'cultural landscape' title.

It was only when I visited it for the second …

Macao by Ivan ManDy

Macao (Inscribed)

Macao

Finally, a long over-due recognition of one of Southern China's most historic yet misinterpreted gems!

Little Macao, a stone throw away from one of the world's most modern cities -Hong-Kong- …

Québec by Carlo Sarion

Québec (Inscribed)

Québec

I visited Quebec at one of the craziest times of the year- January. I remember walking the streets and the temperature was -40 C (including the windchill). I loved the …

Baroque Churches by Ivan ManDy

Baroque Churches (Inscribed)

Baroque Churches

The very first WHS I visited. San Agustin in Manila (one of the 4 listed) was where we once had a school trip. It wasnt one of the things I …

Statue of Liberty by Els Slots

Statue of Liberty (Inscribed)

Statue of Liberty

Probablly one of the most familiar World Heritage Sites anywhere (for better of for worse!). I didnt realize it belong to the list till three years after I've visited it!

Vigan by Ivan ManDy

Vigan (Inscribed)

Vigan

My first trip to visit historic northern city was with a group shutter bugs from a local photography club. Unfortunately for us, we had a small incident with 2 drunk …

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River by Zos M

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean … (Inscribed)

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River

My most vivid remembrance of this river is this:

1. Huge and spectacular salt(?) rock formations.

2. Water was a perfect tropical green.

3. Bats fluttering around.

4. The guides …